Golf putter

ABSTRACT

An improved putter includes a putter head having a face, a toe, and a heel. The putter also includes an elongated shaft that has a longitudinal axis. The face of the putter and back portion of the putter is convexly curved.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

The current application claims the benefit of the earlier priority filing date of the provisional application, Ser. No. 61/635,332 that was filed on Apr. 19, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved putter for reducing strokes, and more generally relates to an improved putter having a convexly curved face with no loft in the axial direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the game of golf, more golfers lose strokes during putting than any other facet of the game. The putting green present the most challenging aspect of the game of golf encountered by many a recreational golfer. If golfers were able to reduce the number of putts during a round of golf, their scores and handicaps would be reduced significantly.

The present invention provides for an improved putter that is able to reduce a golfer's scores. In short, the present invention overcompensates for a mishit, thus allowing the golf ball to proceed along the intended trajectory. As a result, less strokes are required on the putting green.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an improved putter includes a putter head having a face, a toe, and a heel. The putter also includes an elongated shaft that has a longitudinal axis. The face of the putter is convexly curved.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an improved putter includes a face of the putter that has a radius of curvature between about 0.00 to about 100 inches, including all points in between.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an improved putter includes a face of the putter that has a radius of curvature between about 0.00 inches to about 50 inches, including all points in between.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, an improved putter includes a face of the putter that has a radius of curvature between about 16 inches to about 32 inches, including all points in between.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of the improved golf putter;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the improved golf putter;

FIG. 3 is a back side perspective view of the improved golf putter; and

FIG. 4 is front side perspective view of the improved golf putter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 4 show a putter of the present invention that is generally referred to as reference numeral 10. The putter 10 generally includes a putter head 12 attached to a golf shaft 14 having a longitudinal axis. The putter head 12 includes a heal portion 16, a toe portion 18, a face portion 20, and a rear portion 22. The face portion 20 of the putter head 12 is provided for impacting a golf ball (not shown), and has a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion.

The face portion 20 of the putter head includes a machined surface that extends between the top portion and the bottom portion of the face portion 20. The surface of the face 20 portion is machined so that the face portion 20 is convexly curved in a heel/toe direction. The term heel/toe direction means the direction going from the heel portion 16 to the toe portion 18. There is no loft or curvature along the face portion 20 of the putter head 12 between the top portion and bottom portion, resulting in a face portion 20 that is curved in a single direction. Additionally, the back portion of the face portion 20 may also be convexly curved along the length of the heel portion 16 to toe portion 18 with the same radius of curvature as that of the face 20 of the putter head 12.

The rear portion 22 of the putter head 12 includes a cavity 24 and the weight that would be contained within the cavity is redistributed along the putter head 12. It is preferred that the cavity 24 is positioned directly behind the hitting area of the face portion 20. A trough 26 extends generally outwardly from the rear portion 22 of the putter head 12 and extends substantially along the length of the rear portion 22. The trough 26 contains a depression 28 adjacent the cavity 24 that is substantially planar with the bottom portion of the cavity 24.

An outer edge 30 is disposed adjacent the trough on the rear portion 22 of the putter head 12. The outer edge 30 contains a rear nob 32 and a front nob 34, whereby the rear nob 32 is positioned on the heal portion 16 and the front nob 34 is positioned on the toe portion 18. The cavity 24 is centrally located between the rear nob 32 and the front nob 34. The weight taken from the cavity 24 is redistributed on the rear nob 32 and the front nob 34. In one embodiment, the weight distributed on the rear nob 32 and front nob 34 are equal. In another embodiment, the weight distributed on the rear nob 32 is more than the weight distributed on the front nob 34. In yet another embodiment, the weight distributed on the front nob 34 is more than the weight distributed on the rear nob 32.

The top portion of the putter head 12 contains a first alignment mark 36, a second alignment mark 38, and a third alignment mark 40. The first, second, and third alignment marks (36, 38, and 40) are preferably a color different than the color of the putter head 12. The second alignment mark 38 indicates the “sweet spot” of the putter head 12, or in other words, the preferred strike area on the face portion 20 of the putter head 12. The top portion of the putter head 12 contains a first area 42 that is generally straight and in a parallel plane with the ground surface, when the putter head 12 is in use. A second area 44 of the putter head 12 is a depression that is situated below that of the first area and the hosel 46 extends upwardly from the second area. The first, second, and third alignment marks (36, 38, and 40) are disposed on the first area in a spaced apart relationship.

During use of a putter, the “sweet spot” of the putter is usually below an alignment mark (36, 38, and 40). In other words, the golfer intends to strike the golf ball on the face of the putter 10 directly below the alignment mark (36, 38, and 40). In most instances, the golfer desires the alignment mark (36, 38, and 40) to bisect the ball from the point of view of the golfer, thus ensuring solid contact is made with the golf ball and proper putting form was adhered to. The same is true of the putter 10 in the present invention. However, not every stroke is perfect. Therefore, the present invention introduces a putter 10 that can compensate for erroneous hits or improper putting technique.

The convexly curved putter face 20 allows for accurate putting. The face 20 contains from about 0 to about 4 degrees angle of forgiveness. The term “angle of forgiveness” means the angle on either side of the sweet spot of the club. The radius of curvature of the face may be between about 0 inches to about 100 inches, more preferably between about 12 inches to about 50 inches, and most preferably between about 16 inches to about 32 inches.

The present invention includes a convexly curved face 20 of the putter 10 in a single direction that spans from the heel portion to the toe portion. There is no radius of curvature along the face 20 of the putter 10 from the top portion to the bottom portion.

The putter 10 may include a convexly curved back portion of the face 20. In other words, the face 20 does not have any loft (zero degree loft) in the direction from the bottom portion to the top portion of the face 20. A putter 10 with a convexly curved face 20 and no loft on the face 20 is beneficial to the user, because the zero degree loft on the face 20 ensures the face 20 strikes the equator of the golf ball. The convexly curved face 20 ensures the face 20 strikes the center of the golf ball. It will be understood that the equator of the golf ball is the circumference of the golf ball in the top to bottom or vertical direction. The center of the ball is the circumference of the golf ball in the horizontal direction. The putter 10 is designed to strike the golf ball at the intersection of the equator and center of the golf ball.

The convexly cured face 20 of the putter 10 and back portion of the face 20 allows the putter to absorb energy during the putting stroke. As the user strikes the golf ball, the face 20 absorbs a portion of the kinetic energy, which provides for a more accurate putt and allowing the user to exhibit more control over the ball, ball speed, and distance. The back portion of the putter has a milled out portion 24 that affects the overall feel for the user. The milled out portion 24 has a width that is generally less than the width of the face, thus improving the overall feel to the user and ultimately increasing putting accuracy.

When the golfer's putting stroke is less than ideal, such as a pulled swing or a pushed swing, the face 20 does not contact the ball at the “sweet spot.” Instead, a mishit occurs, resulting in the ball contacting the face 20 either closer to the heal 16 or toe 18. A mishit results in disastrous consequences with a flat faced putter, but the putter 10 of the present invention allows the golf ball to get closer to the original target. The convexly curved face 20 corrects any directional error.

During a mishit with the present invention, the convexly curved face provides for a correcting effect, thus allowing the golf ball to travel upon the intended line of trajectory. The putter also allows a user to have a more consistent control over the ball, ball speed, and distance. The curvature of the putter face and the 0° loft of the putter face 20 allows the putter 10 to attack the center point of the golf ball. As the putter makes contact, the ball may slide along the ground prior to rotational movement of the ball towards the golf hole.

The shaft may be straight and includes a typical grip mounted on its upper end. The shaft may be composed of metal, graphite, aluminum, or other suitable material. The shaft may be a standard length shaft, a belly shaft, or an elongated shaft. The shaft is engaged to the hosel that includes a horizontal bend near the area where the shaft and hosel are engaged, resulting in an offset clubhead. This design aids in keeping a user's the hands ahead of the putter head 12 through impact. The offset also aids the stroke in the instance of a mishit that does not strike the sweet spot of the putter face 20.

The putter 10 may be formed of aluminum, copper, steel, copper-beryllium, nickel, bronze, plastics, or mixtures thereof. Additionally, the face 20 may include a face insert (not shown) made of a desired material.

The putter 10 may also be weight balanced from heel 16 to toe 18. In other words, the putter 10 has equal moment arms at the heel 16 and toe 18 that are an equal distance apart from the center of gravity of the club. Thus, an equal amount of weight is located on opposite ends of the longitudinal axis of the head 12.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf putter head, comprising: a putter head having a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion wherein the front portion of the putter head is convexly curved in the horizontal direction and contains no loft in the longitudinal direction.
 2. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the back portion of the putter head is convexly curved.
 3. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the putter has a radius of curvature between about 12 inches to about 24 inches.
 4. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the front portion of the putter has a radius of curvature between about 16 inches to about 24 inches.
 5. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear portion is convexly curved.
 6. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear portion includes a cavity centrally located between a rear nob and a front nob.
 7. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the rear portion contains a trough that extends generally outwardly from the rear portion of the golf putter head and extends substantially along the length of the rear portion, and an outer edge is disposed adjacent the trough, containing a rear nob and front nob.
 8. A golf club, comprising: a putter head having a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion; and an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis; wherein the front portion of the putter head is convexly curved in the horizontal direction.
 9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the rear portion is convexly curved.
 10. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the front portion of the putter has a radius of curvature between about 12 inches to about 24 inches.
 11. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the front portion of the putter has a radius of curvature between about 16 inches to about 24 inches.
 12. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the rear portion contains a trough that extends generally outwardly from the rear portion of the golf putter head and extends substantially along the length of the rear portion, and an outer edge is disposed adjacent the trough, containing a rear nob and front nob.
 13. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the top portion of the putter head contains at least one alignment mark.
 14. A golf club, comprising: a putter head having a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, and a bottom portion; an elongated shaft having a longitudinal axis; a cavity disposed on the back portion and within the putter head; and an outer edge disposed on the back portion of the putter head having a front nob and a rear nob; wherein the front portion of the putter head is convexly curved in the horizontal direction.
 15. The golf club of claim 14, further comprising a putter head that contains no loft in the longitudinal direction.
 16. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the front portion of the putter head is angled backward along the axis extending from the top portion to the bottom portion.
 17. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the top portion of the putter head contains a first area that is generally straight and a second area that is a depression situated below that of the first area.
 18. The golf club of claim 14, further comprising an alignment mark.
 19. The golf club of claim 14, further comprising three alignment marks.
 20. The golf club of claim 14, further comprising a rear nob and a front nob that are weighted the same, creating a weight balanced putter. 